National Republican., 1887-05-12
rnn c1vlL srnvIcn nu Llss.
A Dodge TO Secure the Discharge of
Republican Clerks.


A representative OF the NATIONAL REPUBLi-
CAN yesterday talked with number Of the
older clerks in the various departments In
regard TO the new rule adopted by the civil
service commission as to examinations for pro.
motion.
The universal verdict was that tho rule was
unjust and improper. One gentleman, who
has been IN service twenty years and Is tho.
rGshy e ths duties as %
the work that Is required of me; that have
given entire satisfaction at tho desk occupy,
twill be impossible for me to compete sue
cessfully, even with boy Just from college,
in answering questions rs to the geography of
the earth. l have forgotten what know upon
that subject, and any well read youth does
10 the ordinary questions, such as are used in
q civil service examination. Yet that youth
could not discharge the duties that perform
Another said: ''Why should we be expected
to answer n lot of foolish questions as to tue
lengths of rivers, the population of cities the
school boy knowledge which has nothing to
FORM"
Still another said. III have some knowledge
Of the questions that have been asked candi-
dates seeking civil service positions, and can
see no possible reason why such questions
should be asked as q necessity for promotion
work. An Examination which tested the ability
OF the clerk TO discharge the duties of the office
might, and would be proper; but such exam
nations as have been heretofore prescribed by
the civil service commission will be a farce In
determining the ability OF a clerk for purposes
Of promotion. In fact 1t is more than possible
that the most incompetent clerks win stand
the best examinations of that kind"
A gentleman in the War Department says !:
I'VE are all astonished that such an order
should be issued. There can be but one reason
for its issuance, and that Is, under the guise OF
civil service reform examinations. TO secure
the discharge OF clerks who are politically or
otherwise obnoxious TO the heads of the de-.
partments." You will observe" said this
gentleman. THAT the order is enforced first in
the War Department The reason for this is
very apparent The Secretary of War has per-
sistentiy refused to make discharges for polti-
cal reasons. and 1t Is very apparent to any one
who looks beneath the surface that this Is a
scheme by which the Republican clerks can
be removed from office without exciting the
anger OF civil service reformers and the Mug
wumps and thus depriving the administration
of their political support In the coming cam
paign. IL Will be an easy matter for the chiefs
Of divisions and the heads Of bureaus In this
way to discharge such clerks as they desire,
and in most instances these will be the most
efficient in the departments"
lady who has been number or years In
one Of the departments said: "Such an exami-
nation 1t would be impossible for quite num-
Der of my acquaintances, among the most ei-
Client In the discharge Of their duties in the
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN cannot, of course,
give the names Of parties who arc thus frankly
expressing themselves. II finds, however, that
the opinion Is freely expressed and almost
universally held that these new civil service
rules are simply n dodge to secure the dis.
charge of clerks which the heads of the depart
ments are afraid to make because they might
have bad political effect.